Literary Calendar

Noon. New York Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee discusses and signs The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food at the Library of Congress, James Madison Bldg., Mumford Room, 101 Independence Ave. SE, 202-707-2138. She will also speak at 7 p.m. that evening at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW in an event sponsored by Politics and Prose Bookstore. Two tickets come with purchase of the book at P&P; otherwise, tickets are $6 each. For details, call 202-364-1919.

6 P.M. Syndicated columnist Jim Hightower discusses and signs Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go with the Flow at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, 202-387-7638.

6:30 P.M. Journalist Eleanor Clift, a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine, discusses and signs Two Weeks of Life: A Memoir of Love, Death & Politics at the National Press Club, Holeman Lounge, 529 14th St. NW. This event is free, but reservations are required; call 202-662-7129 or e-mail opus@press.org.

Noon. Poets Jody Bolz, Dan Logan and Preston Pulliam read verse on the theme of "Fathers & Daughters" as part of the "Poetry at Noon" series at the Library of Congress, James Madison Bldg., Pickford Theater, 202-707-5394.

5:30 P.M. Former congressman Mickey Edwards discusses his new book, Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost -- And How It Can Find Its Way Back, at the Eisenhower Institute, 8th floor, 915 15th St. NW. Call 202-628-4444 or visit http://www.eisenhowerinstitute.org/events to RSVP.

6:30 P.M. Eric Alterman, a professor of English and journalism at the City University of New York, discusses and signs Why We're Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America at Borders Books-Downtown, 18th & L Sts. NW, 202-466-4999. He will also speak on Wednesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Parag Khanna, director of the Global Governance Initiative in the American Strategy Program of the New America Foundation, discusses and signs The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-1919.

19 WEDNESDAY

Noon. Allen C. Guelzo, a two-time winner of the distinguished Lincoln Prize, discusses and signs his new book, Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America, at the National Archives, Jefferson Room, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-357-5000.

6:30 P.M. Columbia University professor Arvind Panagariya discusses his new book, India: The Emerging Giant, at the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C., 1800 K St. NW, Ste. 1014. A reception and book signing follow. Admission is $15 for the general public, $10 for council members. For details and to RSVP, call 202-293-1051 or e-mail event@worldaffairsdc.org.

6:30 P.M. Tom Daschle, former U.S. senator from South Dakota, discusses and signs Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis (written with Scott S. Greenberger and Jeanne M. Lambrew) at Borders Books-Downtown, 202-466-4999.